Vette_Fan

Hi guys,

I had a major crash few months ago and my darling C5 got totalled. I had owned it for 12+ yrs since it was a baby (I was the 2nd owner), I had bought it for $19K (1999), with only 14,000 miles - All options. When I got crashed it had 80K loving miles on it. My car was very reliable, only changed belt tensioner; and battery & brakes over the years.


So, now I'm looking to get back into a C5. However I barely got any insurance money so I'm looking for a High Mileage car. Questions -

1. I wonder if they all are that reliable.
2. What's a good age for a C5 (before it's done).
3. I'm looking at 120-150K miles car - is that something I should be worried about? What to look for?

I don't know what else to look for or ask. Help me please.

Vetteman Jack

There are some very good stickies in this section and the C5 Tech section of the forum. Look them over, but since you had a C5 for so long, there may be a lot of info in them that you already know.

The C5 has a few common problems, but in general the platform is pretty darn reliable. Of course as with any car, proper maintenance is crucial, especially as the mileage increases. If you can find a car that is well documented in terms of its care, all the better.

Even the newest C5 is coming up on 14 years old, so IMO the newer the better when you are looking. There were a lot of significant changes made in 2001 so those or newer would have the updates.

Roddy13

Watch the for sale forum here and don't be afraid to buy a plane ticket to get the right car.

You had a C5 for 60,000 miles... you know what to look for!

o2bnkc

I'm on my 4th c5. They were all pretty much the same in reliability. Now if I could get a deal on another c1.......

Vette_Fan

So I looked at a C5 this evening.

Car has 85,000 miles (mine had 80+ when I lost her). Negotiated to $7,500. I know it's not much, but don't wanna buy a head ache either.

However, the interior is as F****Ed as it can be.

Cons:
- The seats are a mess, need NEW seats, or upholstered with new covers.
- It even has a dash mat (omg) that has glue from valcro.
- Unexplained wires that the seller said he put in himself to get the to hotwire from battery to install new speakers.
- The interior plastics are fine, but does need major Shampoooo job and tidy up everything (seats have to be replaces/ or re-done).
- Loose rubber seals from bottom of the door hanging, inside the carpeting is sticking out of place at the foot well.
- Interior looks sticky and dirty (but with a good detail job plastics can be cleaned)
- Seat belt light stays on.
- Parking brake isn't working.
- Weird story how the car ended up here in San Francisco bay area from Georgia.
- Oil Pressure gauge shows ALL the way to 80 (Max) - which I think is a common flaw in C5s.
- Front Passenger fender has a 4 inch ding. Well it broke off and he glued it back. But says "he has a new fender sitting at his friend's house (pre-painted). I'll have to pay for Labor.
- The word "CORVETTE" in the back has been "hand painted" by him in Black cuz it looks good on a Red car. It's not horrible, but looks tacky and not a very clean job.


Pros:
- The body looks Okay (except the fender issue that I know of, which he'll provide a new fender with the car).
- Drives okay (didn't go over 80 mph)
- Has aftermarket Z06 Chrome wheels that were super hot after the drive (not sure if the - wheels are supposed to heat up that much).
- It drove ok, but not sure if it was Confidence inspiring - then again, mine had Bilistien shocks and Hotchakis sway bars, and was lowered. It may need new shock / Suspension work to get that confidence. It has the selector switch for comfort, sport ride. But seems more like a gimmick than functional.
- It's a vert, Top is so so. There IS wind sound at Freeway speeds, but I assume all verts get that.
- AC works (thank God, it's been so hot today)
- Overall the paint isn't too bad - some compound cutting can restore it's Red.

I do have the VIN # 1G1YY32G3W5112531. Can someone get some more info on this, please????

Thanks !!!!

runner140*

I like your thinking....buy another C5, I'd do the same. Hope you are good with a wrench. At that price, you can replace a lot. Good luck.

Koufax

For wind, I have a wind restrictor. It cuts down on the buffeting. With the top down and the windows up (not a good look, I know) the difference is dramatic.

Lexybird

I'd pass .. save till your budget allows for better car . There's too many nice c5s out there to settle for somebody's headache cob job

memmer

That sounds down right fugly.

Fred

Roddy13

Pass you'll find better

WoodyJohnson

Kinda hard to help without knowing how much money you have to work with. If you are willing to travel, I would also think that prices go down substantially outside of CA.

Rob 02

If you are handy with tools you could fix the interior for under a grand.
It is kind of odd how the interior got messed up with only that many miles on it.
You should have bought back your old car from the insurance company for parts. Oh well.

This is a project car.

WoodyJohnson

Man, I was looking over Houston Craigslist and the pickings are really slim for any C5 under 10 grand, it seems like most of them are over 150k on the OD and/or they need major drivetrain repairs. I guess the price of these cars really are going up, all the decent ones with under 80k mileage are all over 15k. The only one I saw that looked like a good bargain ride was this one:

https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/6177459596.html

$8500 and needs the air conditioning fixed, but at 111,000 miles it was the lowest OD mileage of the bargain bunch and it looks like a great bone stock ride. What's the worst an air conditioner problem could cost? I bet you could get into this one for around 9 grand after AC repairs, especially with a little bargaining on the sale price. Or offer him 8 grand and drive it back with the t tops in the trunk and take the Colorado route back.....

knewblewkorvette

Overall, if it was in my area, I'd jump on it for $7,500.

Rob 02

I would check the title and see if it was rebuilt from salvage.

Vette_Fan

Hence my dilemma.

Trying to keep it under $10K, and under 90K miles.

You're making it worse for me...

Yesss.. But how?

Rob 02

A Car Fax should reveal if it was ever considered a total loss by insurance.

Even if it was rebuilt from salvage you might want to know the details.

Black 03 Z06

Pass. That is all I can say.

Rob 02

I would want to know more about how the fender got broken too.

c5vetteguy

As tempting as that low price sounds, realistically, you could dump an easy $5K-$6K into it to get everything sorted out. Now you're approaching a $15K C5, of which there are plenty available. If you're handy with tools and have the space to work on this "project" car, then go for it.
What scares me the most about this car is what the current owner (and maybe even POs) has done to this car. It doesn't sound like he/they may have treated this C5 with the TLC a true car enthusiast would have. I suspect there are other hidden problems that you may be unaware of.
Tread lightly, and by all means, get a vehicle history report and inspection if you think about going ahead with this purchase.